Everton: Roberto Martinez says he must strengthen squad
Last updated on .From the section Football
New manager Roberto Martinez says Everton must strengthen this summer to build on the club's recent success.
Under predecessor David Moyes, the Toffees finished in the top eight of the Premier League for seven seasons in a row between 2007 and 2013.
"We need to bring new signings, players who will develop that competition and give different options on the playing field," the 39-year-old told BBC Sport.
"We want to bring an extra dimension and competition for places."
Incoming Manchester United manager Moyes won widespread acclaim for consistently guiding Everton into the upper reaches of the Premier League on a limited budget, including reaching the qualifying stages of the Champions League in 2005, when they lost to eventual semi-finalists Villarreal.
On the back of another strong campaign in which the club ended up in sixth, players such as Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini and England left-back Leighton Baines have been linked with moves away from Goodison Park.
Martinez insisted he was "not worried" about any interest from other teams.
He said: "When you are successful, and Everton were clearly very successful last season, you will always get interest in players from other football clubs.
"It happens here, and in every football club in the land. We are not worried about that. We want the players to feel really appreciated.
"We need to invest and bring players in which will allow us to start this season with a stronger team than the one that ended the campaign."
On Wednesday, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright revealed for the group stages of the Champions League.
But the ex-Swansea boss said: "I am not saying it is a realistic target, it has to be the dream.
"We should be fighting to one day be in the Champions League spots.
"We cannot expect that to be a target straight away, that is not the league we are in."
Martinez's arrival on Merseyside ended his four-year stay in charge at Wigan.
During that time, he lifted the FA Cup last month but then requested to leave following the club's failure to avoid relegation to the Championship.
After battling against the drop throughout his time in charge at DW Stadium, there has been some scepticism among the Everton supporters about Martinez's appointment on a four-year contract. The Spaniard insisted he would be able to stop any negativity by creating a winning team.
He said: "The only thing I want is that every fan at Everton can be proud of what we are trying to do. I need to answer all the critics with work That is nothing different to what I have done in the past.
"It is healthy that there are people questioning the appointment. It keeps me desperate to show them what I can do and one day turn them around."
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He's a good manager, who under the circumstances at Wigan wasn't able to take them very far. But still, he won Wigan their first major trophy, beating billionaires Man City.
Good luck Roberto, prove these doubters wrong.
Its pretty clear form the last few seasons there is very little between the sides in terms of league positions. As it stands, Everton have the more settled side, Liverpool the more resources to improve. Right now we're neck and neck in no mans land so why try and suggest otherwise?
Bitter & Deluded??? Your nearest rivals finsh above you for 2nd successive season, Man Utd eclipse your 18 titles, no champions league football AGAIN.... not us blues who are 'bitter and deluded' You lot need to get your heads round the fact that you have slipped way down the pecking order and get on with it.
"everton are a club that cannot get investment, despite finishing in top half of table for years, that's worrying"
Why is that worrying? Surely that's a good thing! Living within their means & not over-spending & still acheiving on a consistent basis. That's how Football Clubs should operate. Not @ a loss. Why should FC's not operate within the same realms as the rest of the business world?
I'm not sure 169 and others like him are actual Liverpool FC fans or if they are then it's more than like it's just 1 or 2 people with multiple accounts, who make the rest of us LFC fans look bad. The majority of us cringe when we him and others like him posting. But that's life. Good luck to Martinez he's going to need it to get to the groups stages.
The comment you quote was actually Bill Shankly and just to educate you further he was more welcome at belfield than melwood in his later years ( Belfield was Evertons old training ground and Melwood is still liverpools) anything else you need to know about EFC or LFC just ask , obviously a Woolyback/southerner/Norwegian.
I'm a Celtic fan and even i know that it was Bill Shankly that said that. Some fan you are.
Learn about your own team before commenting on others.
I cant see him doing any better than Moyes did tho, not unless they do seriously invest, but if they wouldnt give Moyes the money I cant see them giving Martinez it either.
Time will tell but for now EFC are the best club on Merseyside and that makes me happy :)
Would that be a Spurs that we beat 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 at WHL?
Or the Arsenal that we drew both games with?
The quality in their squads obviously out-classed us - please do your research before posting.
Besides, Moyes lost us more than 10-points last season with his negative tatics.
Leeds Fan.
Why do you like Everton and why do you like Martinez ?
++
Both club and Martinez manage within their means. Everton was bottom of the league and heavily in debt when the current regime took over. They are much stronger now, and do so without fuss or fanfare. Martinez delivers good football without breaking the bank.
Wigan squad better than Evertons?! I hope you dont actually believe that otherwise id be quite worried about your mental health!
I will happily lay 5/2 on that for any Liverpool fan takers.
As for the LFC trolls on here, your bitterness towards your local rivals is appalling. EFC have finished higher up the ladder in the last 2 seasons. Fact.
Is that long gap in your comment the number of places below Everton Liverpool will finish next season?
The quote is from Shankly, every true LFC knows that.